Combination stepladder



y 7, 2 J. A. GRONOW 1,711,888

' COMBINATION STEPLADDER ,Filed Dec '5, 1925 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l J hn A. Gron 0wv 3 y 7, 1929- J. A. GRONOW 1,711,888

' COMBINATION STEPLADDER Filed Dec. 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 7, 1929- J. A. GRONOW 1,711,888

COMBINATION S TEPLADDER Filed 06s.. 5, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 John GronOw 3mm @ttouwg UNITED STATES Patented May 7, 1929.

PATENT oFFIc v JOHN A. GROlNOW, OF BROOKFI ELD, ILLINOIS.

F COMBINATION STEPLAD'DER.

Application filed December This invention appertains to ladders and more particularlyto a novel ladder which can be used for a number of different purposes and which can be folded, so as to occupy a minimum amount of'space, when the same is not in use thereby facilitating the transporting and storing thereof.

Another object of the invention is ie vision of an improved ladder of novel construction, so arranged and made as topermit the same to be readily used as a tall step lad-.

ready folding and collapsing of the ladder and to give-strength and rigidity to the lad der at the pivot point of the sections thereof. 7

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved folding sectional step ladder of the above character, which will be durable and eflicient in use,'one'that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at-a reasonable cost, r

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction,

arra ement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically,described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the im-= proved step ladder showing the same in one of'its set up positionsand used asa relatively 1 tall ladder, such as for ceiling work, 1

Figure 2 is a front-elevation of the improved step ladder showing the same in use as relativelytall ladder,

Figure 3 is a large fragmentary detail'sectional view illustrating one method of connecting the steps of the ladderto'the side rails thereof, c

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the ladder showing'the' samein its partially folded posi-' tion forus'e as a relatively short ladder, for wall work and the like, I V Figure 5 is a front elevation of the ladder showingthe same used as a relatively short ladder,'- 1 Figure 6 is anenlarged fragmentary side ladder,

is in place.

5, 1325. Serial No. 73,440.

elevationof the frontportion of the ladder showing the novel type of hinge employed,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevation I of the front portion of the ladder illustrating the'novel type of hinge employed,

1 Figure Sis a detail perspective View of one of the sideplates of the hinge,

Figure 9 isa side elevation .of the improved ladder showing the F igure'10'is a detail edge elevation of one of the side rails of the rear portion'of the ladder illustrating the novel type of hinge employed for connecting the sections of the rear portion of the ladder together, Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the railsof the rear portionof the ladder illustrating the novel type of fhinge" same infuse as a stair employed for connectingthe sections'of the rear portion of the ladder together,

Figure 12 1s a fragmentary edge elevation of one of the rails of the rearportion of the ladder illustrating the novel hinge employed for connectingthesections thereof together, a

the view showing the opposite face of the hinge as illustrated in Figure 10,

Figure 13 is a'detail elevation of the novel key or pin employed for the hinges for holding the same against normal swinging movement, p I I Figure 1 1 is an elevationof the novel pin or key taken at right angles to'Figure 13 and showing the movable portion of the key in its operative position for preventing with draw-al thereof from the hinge when the same Referring tothe drawings in detail,'where in similar reference characters designate cor responding parts throughout the several views, 'the letter "A generally indicates the improved step ladder which is particularly adapted for useby painters, interior decorators and the like but which is susceptible for use in other kinds of work. v The novel step ladder A comprises the front main portion B and the rear portion and theseportionsB andC are of substantially the same-height andar e hi ngedly conf nected togetheradjacent to their upper ends, I "as will be hereinafter more fully described. The main'front section B embodies upper and lowersections 15 and 16,-whi'ch are con- I nected together at their meeting ends by "novel hinges 17," which will be also hereina after more fully described; 1 The rearpon' tion C of the ladder also includes upper and lower sections 18 and 19 and these sections are also connected by novel hinges 20 which will. also be hereinafter more fully described.

The companion upper and lower sections 15 and 16 of the front portion B of the ladder include longitudinally extending side rails 21and it is to be noted that the side rails of the lower section 16 below the hinges 17 gradually diverge in order to permit afirm purchase to be had on the ground or floor on which the ladder may be placed. The rails 21 of the sections 15 and 16 are connected together by steps 22 which can be of any desired width and these steps can also be connected to the railsin any preferred way. As shown the inner faces of the; rails 'are provided with notches 23 in which the ends of the steps 22 are placed. The steps 22 at the side rails are braced by transverse rods 24 which extend through the rails directly below the. steps so that the steps can rest directly thereon. These rods 24. have the heads thereof countersunk within the outer faces of the rails as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. As inferred other means can be employed for bracing the ladder and for connecting the steps in place, without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention.

The hinges 17 are of a novel construction and form an important featureof the present invention. Each hinge 17 includes companion upper and lower sections or leaves 25 and 26 and each of these sections or leaves in eludes inner and outer plates 2'- and 28. The

outer plates 28 can be provided with inward- 1y directed flanges 29 for engaging the side edges of the rails and are adapted to be connected to the rails by suitable bolts 30. The flanges can be eliminated on the inner plates 27. The inner ends of the inner and outer plates of the sections of the hinge are provided with oppositely extending rounded ears 31 which are adapted to aline with one another. By referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, it can be seen that the ears 31 of one of the lower plates, and the ears of one of the upper plates can be offset in order to insure proper engagement of the ears with one another. The inner ears 31 are provided with alined axially disposed openings 32 for the reception of a pivot pin 33 and this pivot pin can be of a removable nature if preferred. By this construction it can be seen that the upper section 15 can be swung down on the lower section 16 of the front portion of the ladder. The front ears 31 of the lower sec tion 26 of the hinge are preferably provided with axially disposed polygonal shaped openings 3 l for reniovably receiving the locking pin or key 35, which is clearly shown in Figures 13 and 1 1 of the drawings. It is to be noted that each key or pin 35 e1nbodies a shank 36 having the head 37 formed on one end thereof and that the opposite end of the shank is slotted or bifurcated as at 38 for the reception of the reduced flat portion 39 of the swinging detent l0 of the pin. The reduced portion 39 of the detent is received within the slot 38 of the shank and is pivotally connected to theshank at a point intermediate its'ends by the use of a suitable rivet or the like-41. When it is desired to hold the sections 15 and 16 ofthe ladder against swinging movement relative to one another the key or pin 35 is inserted through the alined openings 34 of the front ears 31 of the sections of the hinge and it is obvious that the hinge will be locked against swinging movement and that an exceptionally strong connection will be had between the sections of the front portion of the ladder. After the keys or pins35 havebeen inserted in place the detent portions 10 thereof are swung at right angles as shown in Figure 1 1 and the upper and lower ends thereof will lie on opposite sides of the openings 34 and thus accidental displacement is prevented.

The sections 18 and 19 of the rear portion of the ladder G are substantially the same length as the upper and lower sections 15 and 16 of the front portion of the ladder. These sections 18 and 19 also each. includes the side rails 42 which are preferably braced by cliagonal struts 13 which can be connected to the siderails 42 in any desired way, such as bands the rails. The hinges 20ailso form an important part of the invention and each hinge in- 44, which as shown embrace the side faces of Y eludes the upper and lower leaves or sections 1 45 and 16 and each of the leaves or sections 15 and l6 consists of inner and outer plates 4-7 for embracing the side faces ofthe rails 42. Certain of the plates 47 can be provided with inwardly directed flanges 48' for engaging the side edges of the rails and these which are provided with alined axial open ings for the reception of a pivot bolt 51 on which can be threaded a'winged nut 52 in Y orderto firmly bind the hinge together to prevent accidental swinging movement there 7 of. The inner edges of the plates can also be provided with overlapping laterally extending ears 53 which are provided with suitable openings for the reception of one of the locking keys or pins 35. This also holds the hinge against accidental swinging movement.

The means employed for connecting the front portion B of the ladder to the rear portion O embodies plates 541 which are bolted as at 55 to the upper ends of the rails 21 of the front portion B. These plates 54 can carry suitable pivot bolts 56 which extend through suitable openings in the upper terminals of sired type of retaining'means eanbe em- V of the rear portion C of the ladder can be.

ployed for holding the rails 42 on the said pivot bolts. By this construction, the pertions B and C of the ladder are pivotally connected together and it is to be noted at this point that the portion C is utilized as a rest or support for the main front portion B of the ladder. In order to prevent breaking of the sections of the ladder or the spreading thereof when the ladder is in use, flexible chains 57 are employed for connecting the portions B and G of the ladder together as clearly shown in Figures 1, 4. and 9 of the drawings. These chains can be permanently connected to one of the pins 35 while the other pin can be employed for fitting through any one of the links of the chain sothat the active length of the chain can be regulated.

When it is desired to use the ladder for relatively high work the ladder is set up as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and the pins 35 are placed in engagement with the hinges 17 and which secures the rigidity of the ladder. The ladder is now ready for.

use.

lVhen the necessity for a relatively short step ladder arises the ladder is folded as shown in Figures 4: and 5 of the drawings. The folding ofthe ladder vis broughtabout by swinging the rear portion C on the front portion and by removing the pins from engagement with the hinges 17 and20. The upper sections 15. and 18 of the front and rear portions B and C are now folded back on their hinges 17 and 20 so as to occupy the position in Figure 4:. By this arrangement it can be seen that a relatively short ladder is formed and that the sections of the front portion B of the ladder are disposed on each side, so that a person can mount theladder from either side thereof. I

'When it is desired to use the ladder on stair cases and the like the lower sections 19 entirely removed by takingout the pivot bolts and the locking keys or pins 35. The

front portion B of the ladder isplaced on one ofthe lower steps, while thelowerjend of the upper section 18 of therear'portion C is placedon one of the upper steps of the staircase. By this arrangement it can be seen that the ladder can be expeditiously used on stairways. V

Itis to be also noted'that the ladder can be folded to a relatively small compass for shippingv and storage purposes by simply swinging the portions of the ladder together,

when the same is folded for use as a relatively short ladder, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided a ladder which can be used for a number of different purposes and which is of anexceptionally simple and strong character.

Changes-in details may be made without. departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but:

lVhat I claim as new is: i

1. In a step ladder ofthe class described, front and rear ladder structures, means con necting the same at their upper ends for relative angular adjustment, each of said structures comprising an upper and a lower section, hinges connecting the sections of each structure, the hinges connecting the sections of one structure comprising leaf members secured togthe said sections and having hingedly connected pint-1e portions and proj ecting portions'positioned to mutually overlap when the sections are in alined position,

means removably engageable with the said projecting portions of the-leaf members of each hinge for holding the leaf members against relative movement, .and a flexible bracing element extending between each of means of the respective hinge of the first mentioned ladder structure.

2.111 a step ladder'of the class described, front and rear ladder structures, means connecting the sameat their upper ends for relative angular adjustment, each of said structures comprising an upper and a lower section, means hingedly connecting the sections of each 'structure,'the hinges connecting the sections] of one structure comprising leaf members secured to the said sections and having hingedly connected pintle portions andprojecting portions positionedto mutually overlap when the sections are inalined position and provided with openings to register when thesections are in such position, a 1

pin removably fitted through said openings and constituting means for holding the leaf In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN A. GRONOW. 

